The local SW Idaho cyclocross season kicked-off with two races on 9/26/2015 & 9/27/2015, Idaho Wafflecross (#1) & (#2). Wild Rockies Race Team was represented at both races, and Weston and Fritz finished both races. Allis, Chris Ford and Gary joined this “ageless duo” for Wafflecross (#2), and they also posted respectable finishes.

The venue for these races was the Eagle Bike Park, and the course included two loops, the grass section with a pair of full legal size barriers, and the dirt section with copious loose dirt challenges. The weather for Wafflecross (#1) was too nice with temperature in the upper 80F range, causing dehydration exhaustion in some. The weather for Wafflecross (#2) was more comfortable in the mid 70F range, but still far from “crossy”.

The first cyclocross race of the season can be a shock to the system, unless you have had intense interval training leading up to the race. My body was not prepared for this level of intensity, and even though I had a good start, I was unable to hold my position after the loose dirt run-ups late in the first lap. I felt more comfortable and had a stronger performance on the second day at Wafflecross (#2).

Fritz leads a group with Weston near the back on the first lap of Wafflecross (#1)

The Wafflecross (#1) course was the most difficult I have seen. The pair of full legal height barriers on the grass section were placed immediately following a downhill left turn that forced early breaking and dismount just prior to the steep climb up to the road crossing. The dirt section had a difficult loose dirt run-up over the “berm” immediately followed by a loose dirt descent into the railroad tie stair run-up. After a brief descent, there was a loose dirt turn that led into the next loose dirt ascent of the berm, and this together with the loose dirt side-hill “down and back up excursion” that immediately followed cost me huge amounts of time, as I did not have the strength / skill to ride this pair of features, and they turned into another double run-up.

Weston rides the loose dirt side-hill “down and back up excursion” at Wafflecross (#1)Fritz runs-up the loose dirt side-hill “down and back up excursion”

Weston took 4th and Fritz settled for 6th in the M55+ race at Wafflecross (#1)

The Wafflecross (#2) course was roughly the Wafflecross (#1) course run in the opposite direction. The reversal of direction reduced the number of run-ups from four to one loose dirt run-up, and this is more on-par with cyclocross course difficulty I have experienced. There was still plenty of loose dirt difficulties, and a climb was added to the course to accommodate running the grass section in the opposite direction. The following photographs were taken at the top of this climb.

Weston and Fritz enter the hairpin turn at the end of the dirt section of the first lap at Wafflecross (#2)Gary and Chris enter the hairpin turn (6 seconds behind Weston and Fritz) at the end of the dirt section of the first lap at Wafflecross (#2)Allis enters the hairpin turn (2:28 behind Weston and Fritz, but her start was delayed ~1:00) at the end of the dirt section of the first lap at Wafflecross (#2)Chris enters the hairpin turn (16 seconds behind Fritz and 24 seconds behind Westin) at the end of the dirt section of the second lap at Wafflecross (#2)

Weston had another great performance at Wafflecross (#2) and beat Fritz by 45 seconds. Weston took 4th place, Fritz took 5th place and Chris took a very respectable 6th place in the M55+ Wafflecross #2. Allis also took a very respectable 11th place in the Women’s Cat4 race. Gary took 14th place in a tough M35+ field, somewhat hindered by his mountain bike.

Weston crosses the finish of Wafflecross (#2) just after lapping Allis and two other female racers

The photographs included in this article were taken by Michele Swan. To see / copy the full resolution available in these “quarter resolution” images, click or tap the images to bring-up the attachment page, click or tap on the image magnifier located between the image title / filename and the image, and then right click on the image to copy (on a PC). Instructions to purchase the full resolution photos are available at Fitness and Grace Photo.